Convertible bed couch



I J. M, VALLONE CONVERTIBLE; BED cou'cn Filed Jan. 10, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 III:

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1939. J M VALLQNE. 2,142,578

v CONVERTIBLE BED COUCH Filed Jan. 10, '1938 s Sheets-Sheet 3 ATVO/Q/VEYi- Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE Barcalo N. Y.

Manufacturing Company,

Buffalo,

Application January 10, 1938, Serial No. 184,291

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in studio or convertible bed couches, in which the couch back is adapted to be swung down forwardly from its normal upright position to a horizontal position in rear of the seat so as to provide a bed section cooperating with the couch seat to form a wide bed. My application Serial #149,158, filed June 19, 1937, discloses a couch of this type, and one object of the present improvement is to construct such a couch so as to provide therein a readily accessible storage space or receptacle for bedding or other articles.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a convertible bed couch of this type which is of improved, novel and desirable construction; which is capable of easy operation, and provides a conveniently accessible storage receptacle; in which the couch back is mounted so that it can be shifted to a horizontal position in rear of the couch seat for forming the bed and is operable to afford access to the storage receptacle which is beneath the back when the latter is in its horizontal position; in which the seat can be moved from its position over the storage receptacle to 2 give access to the latter without moving the back out of its upright position; and which has the other features of advantage and improvement hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate three slightly different embodiments of the invention. In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a couch of one construction embodying the invention, the parts being shown in normal couch-formingposition, the usual upright couch ends and upholstering of the couch being omitted to better show the frame construction.

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation showing a position of the parts when converting the couch into a bed.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, transverse, sectional elevation thereof on a larger scale, showing the bed-forming position of the parts.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional elevation, enlarged, on line 44, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a broken, fragmentary plan view of the couch.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation on line 66, Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an end elevation of the back, seat and back-supporting frames illustrating a somewhat different embodiment of the invention, with the parts in normal position.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the same with the back in its horizontal bed-forming position, and

showing by broken lines the back raised to give access to the storage receptacle.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view thereof on line 99, Fig. '7, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary face view of a part of the back and back-supporting frame in upright position.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary end elevation of another embodiment in which tubular back and back-carrying frames are employed.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary end view thereof, showing the back frame up and the backcarrying frame down.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional elevation showing the back and carrying frames in upright position.

The couch comprises a seat section and a backsupporting frame, one of which is movable horizontally out and in, or forwardly and rearwardly relatively to the other for converting from couch to bed and vice versa, and a back section mounted on the back-supporting frame so that it can be swung down forwardly from its normal upright position toa horizontal position in rear of the couch seat, with the latter in its outer position, to cooperate with the seat to form the bed. Preferably the back-supporting frame is intended to remain stationary while the seat section is movable forwardly from a normal position over the back-supporting frame to a position in front of the latter.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the stationary frame In comprises four upright corner posts or legs ll, horizontal end bars 12, each of which is rigidly attached to and connects the front and rear corner posts at one end of the couch, and longitudinal front and rear bars 13 which are rigidly attached to and connect the opposite end bars. These frame bars may be metal angle bars, and preferably the end bars l2 are arranged with one flange of each extending upwardly and the other flange extending inwardly from the lower edge of the vertical flange. The longitudinal bars are preferably arranged as shown, with their vertical flanges at the inner edges of the bars.

The frame of the seat section I4 is rectangular and formed by four corner posts or legs 15 rigidly connected by two end bars 16 and longitudinal front and rear bars H. As shown, the legs are formed by plates bent into angle form. Metal angle bars may be used for the end and longitudinal bars, the end bars being preferably arranged with their vertical flanges extending downwardly at the outer edges of the bars, and

the rear longitudinal bar is preferably secured on the top faces of the end bars with its vertical flange extending upwardly.

The couch back frame I8 is rectangular and formed by end bars l9 rigidly connected to 1ongitudinal upper and lower bars 20. These bars also may be metal angle bars, and preferably the end angle bars are arranged with one flange of each extending forwardly at the outer edge of the bar while the longitudinal bars are arranged with one flange of each extending forwardly from its outer edge. In. this embodiment of my invention, the back frame is hinged at its lower portion to the rear portion of the back-supporting frame ID, preferably by means of arms 2| rigidly fixed to the lower corners of the back frame and projecting forwardly therefrom. As shown, these arms are hinged at their forward ends to turn on a longitudinal rod or shaft 22 which extends through and is adapted to turn in bearing holes in the upright flanges of the end bars !2 of the stationary frame. By hinging the back by means of the forwardly projecting hinge arms 2|, the back frame, when in its horizontal position, is located at an elevation above the horizontal bars of the supporting frame Ill.

The seat frame is moved forwardly and rearwardly relative to the stationary frame I 0 for converting from couch to bed and vice versa, by

links 23 at the ends of the couch, pivoted at their front ends to the seat frame I4 and pivoted at their rear ends to operating members at opposite ends of the back frame. As shown, these members consist of levers 24 arranged lengthwise of and outside of the end bars of the back frame and have forwardly extending, lower ends welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the longitudinal shaft 22, whereby the levers are rigidly connected and adapted to swing together about the same pivotal axis as the back frame. Handles or portions 25 provided at the upper ends of the levers extend inwardly from the levers in front of the end bars of the back frame. The links 23 and levers 24 are preferably of such bent or angle form that when the back is upright, they will extend from beneath the seat up in the plane of the back frame, and thus be practically out of sight in the finished couch.

If the levers are swung forwardly and downwardly from their upright position, shown in Fig. 1, they will act through the links 23 to push the seat frame forwardly, as indicated in Fig. 2, and the movement of the levers down to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3 will move the couch seat out to its forward bed-forming position. As shown, the levers 24 are provided with laterally projecting, rigid studs 26 which, when the levers 24 are in a horizontal position, engage adjacent portions of the links 23, thereby limiting the downward swing of the levers and supporting the front end thereof with the levers horizontal. When the back is swung downwardly, it will be supported at its forward portion in its horizontal position by the inwardly projecting portions 25 of the operating levers. The back can be supported horizontally by other means, such as the fixed rests on the frame It), as hereinafter described.

The back frame and the operating levers can be swung up and down, either together or independently. That is, the operating levers 24 can be swung forwardly and downwardly independently of the back frame, for moving the couch seat outwardly, thus leaving the back frame standing in its normal position, or the back frame can be swung down forwardly and, by engagement with the inbent portions of the levers, will cause the latter to swing with the back frame and thus move the seat section out. Also, when the parts are in bed-forming position, the levers 24 and the back frame can be swung upwardly together by grasping and swinging the levers upwardly, to restore the parts to couch-forming position, or the back frame can be swung up, leaving the seat frame in its outer position, thereby removing the back frame from over the supporting frame l0, leaving the latter exposed. Thus, ready access is afforded to a storage receptacle provided on the stationary back-supporting frame. This storage receptacle, as shown, is formed by a box 2'! which may be of any suitable construction and material, and may be arranged between and fastened at the upper edges of its front and rear walls, as by rivets, to

the longitudinal bars I3 of the stationary frame. The upper edges of the end walls of the box may be attached to supporting bars or strips 28 resting on or secured to the end bars l2 of the stationary frame. The receptacle can be pro vided with a cover or left open, as desired.

By the described construction, when access to the storage receptacle is desired, the seat section may be pushed forwardly from over the stationary frame by pulling the operating levers 24 forwardly downwardly, leaving the back frame in its normal, standing position. Thus, access is afforded to the storage receptacle for removing articles therefrom or placing them therein. If the back section has been lowered to its horizontal position for forming the bed, and access is desired to the storage receptacle, it is only necessary to swing the back frame upwardly, leaving the operating levers for the seat section in their horizontal position, thus preventing the seat section from being drawn inwardly over the stationary frame and receptacle.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 7-10, the back frame [8, instead of being hinged directly to the stationary frame I0, is hinged at its lower edge portion toswing from upright to horizontal position on a carrying frame which, in turn, is hinged to the rear portion of the stationary frame I0 to swing for carrying the back frame from its upright to its horizontal position, and vice versa.

The stationary frame I0 and the back frame may be constructed as above described. The carrying frame, as shown, comprises end members 3!] extending lengthwise beside the end bars of the back frame, and a cross bar 3| rigidly connecting the upper ends of the end members and extending longitudinally in front of the back frame. The end members 30 shown are metal angle bars arranged with one flange of each extending rearwardly at the outer side of the adjacent end bar of the back frame. Hinge arms or brackets 32 rigidly fixed to and projecting forwardly from the lower ends of the end members 3D are suitably hinged to the stationary frame, as by a rod 34 passing through the hinge arms and the verticalfianges of the stationary frame bars l2. The operating links for the seat section are pivoted at their rear ends to the end members30 of the carrying frame which correspond to the operating levers 24 in the first embodiment. The storage receptacle, as before, is carried by the stationary frame and may be constructed and mounted as before described, or in any other suitable way.

With this embodiment, when it is desired to convert the couch into the bed, the back frame is swung forwardly and downwardly, and by engagement with the end and cross bars of the carrying frame, swings the latter with the back frame, thereby pushing the seat section out and permitting the back frame to assume its horizontal position in rear of the seat. The back frame can be sup-ported in its horizontal position in any suitable way. Fixed stops 33 on the stationary frame, on which the front portion of the carrying frame is adapted to rest, are shown for this purpose, but the forward end of the carrying frame could, if desired, be supported by studs on the carrying frame arranged to engage the links in the same manner as the studs '25 on the ends of the back frame in the construction first described.

When the parts are in the bed-forming position, with the back frame overlying the storage receptacle, this frame can be swung upwardly, leaving the carrying frame horizontal and the seat section in its outer position, to give access to the storage receptacle. The parts can be restored to the couch-forming position by swinging the carrying frame and the back frame, which is carried by it, upwardly and rearwardly to upright position.

The back frame in each embodiment herein disclosed is, of course, constructed to adapt it to properly support a rear mattress section or cushion, for which purpose the back frame is shown as provided with a resilient, flexible mattress support 35 which may be of any usual or desired bed spring fabric construction. The couch seat cushion, which forms the front bed section, may be of any usual or suitable construction. It is indicated by broken lines at 38.

Figs. 11 to 13 illustrate a construction, similar to that shown in Figs. '7 to 10, but having the back frame [8a and its carrying frame 30a made with side and top bars of metal tubing instead of angle bars, as in the previous embodiments. The side and top bars of each frame are preferably formed by a tube bent into U-shape.

In order that these two frames may occupy the same plane, the back frame is made of less height and width than the carrying frame and is arranged within or between the side bars thereof. The flattened ends of the side bars of the carrying frame are welded or otherwise fixed to hinge arms 32a pivoted to the rear portion of the stationary frame Ill, and the flattened ends of the side bars of the back frame are pivoted to the sides 30a of the carrying frame and welded or otherwise fixed to a bottom cross bar 31. These two frames can be swung together, as one, for converting from couch to bed and vice-versa, and when the carrying frame has been turned down to its horizontal position and has moved the seat frame out, the back frame can be swung up on its pivots, as indicated in Fig. 12, to give access to the bedding receptacle 21, as explained in connection with the Figs. 7-10 embodiment.

The back frame may be supported in its horizontal position by suitable means, small plates 38 fixed to the side bars of the back frame and adapted to rest on the side bars of the carrying frame being shown for the purpose. Movement of the back beyond the upright position when it is swung up, may be prevented by suitable means, such as studs 39 fixed to the hinge arms 32a in position to be engaged by the lower end of the back frame when vertical.

My above mentioned application, Serial No.

149,158 discloses a couch of this type, in which the back is swung forwardly for converting from couch to bed, and in which, in addition, the seat section is automatically raised to a higher elevation in its forward, bed-forming position. The herein described improvements providing the storage receptacle and permitting the back frame to be operated to give access to the storage receptacle, are also applicable to couches such'as described in said application having a seat adapted to be automatically raised and lowered. This will be apparent from the disclosure in said application.

I claim as my invention:

1. A convertible bed couch comprising a seat frame with a seat, and a back-supportingframe, one of which is movable out and in from a position in which the latter is beneath the former, a back frame mounted on said back-supporting frame to swing from a standing to a horizontal position, operating means arranged to swing with said back frame and constructed to movesaid movable frame to place said seat in front of said back-supporting frame when said back frame is swung to its horizontal position in rear of the seat, and a storage receptacle in said back-supporting frame, said back frame being movable up from its horizontal position overlying said storage receptacle while said operating means are in operating condition without actuating said operating means and causing said seat to be placed over said back-supporting frame.

2. A convertible bed couch comprising aseat frame with a seat, and a back-supporting frame providing a storage space, one of which frames is movable out and in from a position in which the latter is beneaththe former, an'operating frame pivoted on said back-supporting frame to swing down forwardly from a standing to a horizontal position and linked to said seat frame for placing said seat in front of said back-supporting frame when said operating frame is swung to its horizontal position, and a back frame pivoted to said operating frame to swing therewith from a standing position to a horizontal position in rear of said seat and overlying said storage space, said back frame being movable up from its horizontal position overlying said storage space while said operating frame and links are in operating condition, Without actuating said operating frame and causing said seat to be placed over said backsupporting frame.

3. A convertible bed couch comprising a seat frame with a seat, and a back-supporting frame, one of which is movable out and in from a position in which the latter is beneath the former, a back frame mounted on said back-supporting frame to swing from a standing to a horizontal position, means comprising operating members pivoted to said back-supporting frame and linked to said seat frame for moving said movable frame to place said seat in front of said back-supporting frame when said back frame is swung toits horizontal position in rear of said seat, and a storage receptacle in said back-supporting frame, said back frame being movable up from its horizontal position overlying said storage receptacle independently of said operating members while said operating members remain linked to said seat frame to give access to said receptacle.

4. A convertible bed couch comprising a stationary frame providing a storage space, a seat frame with a seat movable to place the seat over or in front of said stationary frame, a back frame pivotally supported by said stationary frame, and

operating members pivoted to said stationary frame and linked to said seat frame for moving said seatframe to its outer position in front of said stationary frame, said back frame being arranged to swing with said operating members forwardly and downwardly from a standing position to a horizontal position in rear of said seat and over said storage space, and said back frame being movable independently of said operating members from above said storage space while said seat remains in its outer position and said operating members remain linked to said seat frame.

5. A convertible bed couch comprising a stationary frame providing a storage space, a seat frame with a seat movable to place the seat over or in front of said stationary frame, a back frame, operating members pivotally carrying said back frame and pivoted to said stationary frame and linked to said seat frame for moving said seat frame to its position in front of said stationary frame and swinging said back frame forwardly and downwardly from a standing position to a horizontal position in rear of said seat and over said storage space, said back frame being movable independently of said operating members from above said storage space while said seat remains in its outer position and said operating members remain linked to said seat frame.

6. A convertible bed couch comprising a stationary frame providing a storage space, a seat frame with a seat movable to place the seat over or in front of said stationary frame, a back frame pivotally supported by said stationary frame, and operating members pivoted to said stationary frame and linked to said seat frame for moving said seat frame to its position in front of said stationary frame and swinging said back frame forwardly and downwardly from a standing position to a horizontal position in rear of said seat and over said storage space, said operating members being operable either together with said back frame, or independently thereof for leaving the back frame standing to give access to the storage space.

'7. A convertible bed couch comprising a seat frame with a seat, and a back supporting frame, one of which is movable out and in from a position in which the latter is beneath the former, a back frame pivotally carried by said back-supporting frame, means comprising operating members pivoted to said back-supporting frame and linked to said seat frame for moving said movable frame to place said seat in front of said back-supporting frame and placing said back frame in a horizontal position in rear of said seat, and a storge receptacle in said back-supporting frame, said operating members being operable either together with said back frame or independently thereof for leaving the back frame standing to give access to the storage receptacle.

8. A convertible bed couch comprising a backsupporting frame providing a storage space, and a seat frame, one of which is movable out and in from a position in which the former is beneath the latter, a frame hinged to said back-supporting frame and connected to said seat frame for effecting said movements of said movable frame, and a back frame pivotally mounted on the backsupporting frame to swing with and also independently of said hinged frame, each of said hinged and back frames having tubular top and side bars, and the back frame being of smaller dimensions than and arranged within said hinged frame.

JOSEPH M. VALLONE. 

